Food additive “lauric acid” possess non-toxic profile on biochemical, haematological and histopathological studies in female Sprague Dawley (SD) rats

Abstract

Background Lauric acid (LA), a common constituent of coconut oil, is used as food additives and supplements in various formulations. Despite various potential pharmacological properties, no scientific evidence on its dose-related toxicity and safety is available till date. Objective The current study was conducted to evaluate acute oral toxicity of LA on normal rats. Methods The study was conducted in accordance with the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development guidelines (OECD 423) with slight modifications. LA was administered orally to female Sprague Dawley (SD) rats (n = 6/group) at a single dose of 300 and 2,000 mg/kg body weight, respectively, while normal control received vehicle only. Animals from all the three groups were monitored for any behavioural and toxicological changes and mortality for two weeks. Food and fluid consumption, body weight was monitored on daily basis. At the end (on day 15th) of the experimental period, blood was collected for haematological and biochemical analysis. Further, all the animals were euthanized, and internal organs were harvested for histopathological investigation using four different stainings; haematoxylin and eosin, Masson trichrome, Periodic Acid Schiff and Picro Sirius Red for gross pathology through microscopical observation. Results The study results showed no LA treatment-related mortality and morbidity at two different dosages. Daily food and water consumption, body weight, relative organ weight, haematological, and biochemical analysis were observed to be normal with no severe alterations to the internal tissues. Conclusion The current finding suggests that single oral administration of LA, even up to 2,000 mg/kg body weight, did not exhibit any signs of toxicity in SD rats; thus, it was safe to be used on disease models in animals.

Lauric Acid Is a Potent Biological Control Agent That Damages the Cell Membrane of Phytophthora sojae

“…As the main component of coconut oil and breast milk, LA is usually part of regular diets and feed additives, showing potent antimicrobial effects and lack of toxicity ( Zeiger et al, 2017 ; Khan et al, 2020 ; Zhang et al, 2020 ). In the host security test, with concentrations lower than 0.3 g a.i./plant, both LA and GML could promote soybean growth; however, higher concentrations may negatively influence host growth.…”

Comparison between Gastric Lavage with Paraffin Oil versus Coconut Oil in Acute Aluminum Phosphide Poisoning: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

“…However, it is used in different modalities such as treatment of pediatric constipation (Torabi et al, 2017). In addition, coconut oil is plant derived oil that possess antioxidant capacity, and safely used as food additive, cosmetics, and weight reduction (Ghani et al, 2018;Khan et al, 2020).The present study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of gastric lavage with paraffin oil versus coconut oil versus isotonic saline as adjuvants to sodium bicarbonate 8.4% solutions in aluminum phosphide poisoned patients.…”